Since the new Legoland Florida park will be fully operating well before the holidays, I was wondering if it will have the same type of special events that the California park has. Here's what the California park offered for the holidays in 2010 according to Family-Vaction Getaways (FVG):
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"Let It Snow, the Musical"--- Beginning November 20th, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday vacation, this 25 minute long seasonal stage play begins. It will continue to run clear through New Year's Eve.
Nightly tree lighting: Beginning on Monday, November 29th, 2010, there will be a nightly lighting ceremony of the Legoland Christmas tree every evening that the park is open. The last date for the tree lighting is December 24th. Legoland is open on Christmas Day, but there will be no tree-lighting event.
Fireworks displays: Every night between December 26th and 31st, you'll be able to enjoy a fireworks show in celebration of the holiday season!
Kid's New Year's Eve Party: 6 pm is the time...and Legoland's Miniland themed area is the place! Gather to hear live music and watch a giant Lego brick drop at "midnight!" Your children will never know it's not actually 2011 yet...unless you tell them!
One thing that struck me as interesting was this little bit of information from FVG about the decorations:
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Unfortunately, the entire park is NOT decorated. If you're not expecting that fact, the Christmas experience at Legoland can seem a little UNDERwhelming. Once you leave the park's entrance area, you leave behind the park's holiday decorations, as well.
I wonder if Legoland kept all the holiday decorations that CG had for its nightime holiday displays? It seems like they could put on a more extensive Christmas experience that isn't confined mainly to the park's entrance. The old holiday light decorations are something that has proven to be popular with both old and young alike.
My Church barely decorates for Christmas and that doesn't bother me much. So, it wouldn't bother me if Legoland doesn't decorate much either.
I can't speak for everyone though. I'm sure some people love the Disney decorations of the entire park. But I'd be curious to see a study showing more people come when the park is decorated. Probably a lot of effort for little return.
Maybe Legoland will bring back the old Cypress Gardens "Santa Claus of the World" display or something.
Kringle's is now the Lego Studio Store (movie Lego toys like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, etc.)
Sorry I've only got the one photo inside the place. I was too underwhelmed I guess...
Yes I have indeed said it many times, but there are still those that actually think what was CG still is and still should be what was. Those days are gone forever. Legoland is a children's park and the future is with the children. Just let go of the past and enjoy today. Seniors had their day - now it is Legoland for children.
Here's an article from the Orlando Sentinel. Looks like the park has listened to me and will have someone watching the gardens...Santa Claus!
Legoland Florida has announced its first year-end holiday plans. Beginning Dec. 5, the Winter Haven theme park will mark its “Christmas Bricktacular” with decorations, primarily in “The Beginning” and Fun Town areas.
One dominant decoration should be the 30-foot Christmas tree made of 270,000 green Lego and Duplo bricks. It will be erected in The Beginning - a.k.a., the park’s entrance. The first lighting ceremony will take place Monday, Dec. 5., and a family will be selected to assist with the lighting each night from Dec. 8 to Dec. 31.
(Friendly reminder that Legoland Florida, which opened in October, is frequently closed on Tuesdays and Wednesday, including Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14. )
Santa Claus will be stationed in the botanical gardens area and available for photos.
On Dec. 31, Legoland Florida will celebrate Kids’ New Year’s Eve, which features fireworks at an unusual time — what Legoland refers to as midnight KST or “Kid Standard Time,” more commonly known as 7 p.m. Eastern Time.
The holiday events are included in regular park admission.
I'm sure the tree will have more decorations. Here's a shot of the tree at the California park:
A far more impressive tree in my opinion is huge Christmas tree the old park had. It was about three times the height of the LL tree and looked fantastic at night. I don't know if the park has the tree or any of the old decorations in its possession. If it does, I think it would be great to utilize them and create a Christmas display in the old Plantation Gardens area that surpasses anything seen at the other LL parks.
Here's another shot of the old tree. I wonder if Landsouth got rid of the tree before they sold the park. It would be a shame if it's sitting mothballed somewhere going to waste.
The old Cypress Garden tree was destroyed during one of the three hurricanes before Kent re-opened the park. There were pictures of it showing it destroyed in one of the local papers after it happened.
I like a lot of things built with Legos but don't like the pictures of the Lego christmas trees. Maybe they look better in person.
I found the website of the article showing a picture of the "Spring" tree destroyed. As you are aware the spring tree and the Christmas tree were the same tree with different decorations. As you can see it was totally destroyed. That is why Kent never used it after he re-opened the park. http://www.newschief.com/article/20090813/NEWS/908135022
The original large Christmas tree was a new addition to the park's 1997 Garden of Lights display. It stood 110-feet-tall and was billed at the time as the world’s tallest free-standing Christmas tree. The 50-foot-wide tree was reportedly decorated with 22,000 lights using 95,000 watts of power. The tree was destroyed by hurricane Charley in 2003.
Kent obtained a new 80-foot Christmas tree that he used for his "Old Fashioned Christmas" holiday event. The tree is shown in my posting just before this one...the one with the multi-colored lights (the picture was taken in 2006). The last time I saw this tree used was during Christmas 2008 when LandSouth owned the park. I have no idea if the tree was still in LandSouth's possession when they sold the park to LL. If LL has the tree in storage, I think they should use it since like Ed, I'm not particularly enthralled with the Lego Christmas tree.
Didn't remember Kent purchasing a replacement 80 foot Christmas tree - that one got by me. I was there during the 2007 and 2008 Christmas season but probably thought that was still the old tree - even though it doesn't make sense if I think about the time line now. My mistake.
LandSouth sold off everything they could when they went back to the "Cypress Garden Basics" - good chance the Christmas tree and other lighted decorations were sold off.
Even if it wasn't, I really doubt Legoland would put it up. Since the park closes the latest from November to Christmas week at 6:00 pm and only till 7:00 pm during Christmas week - a lot of effort for something that will only be lit 1 or 2 hours per day. For that reason I don't think they will be into a lot of lighted Christmas decorations. I fear that part of CG with the "Millions of Christmas Lights", like so much more, is gone forever.
About time their name is revealed. I hope Bok Tower and Legoland isn't using them.
From the article, had it NOT been for Landmark American Insurance company weaseling out of DOING THEIR JOB, Kent's effort to rebuild Cypress Gardens from the hurricanes really would have been one heck of a Cinderella Story.
-------------------- Let's hope that new MSAP can pull off one of the greatest homecomings Panama City Beach ever had!
The Starliner shall rise again!
